MLB Player News

Choi is preparing to resume workouts in his native South Korea after a two-week period of self-quarantine following his return to the country, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi has had to wait longer to resume workouts than some of his teammates due to his decision to return to his home country, which appears to be returning to normalcy daily. The 29-year-old will look to maintain the positive pace of preparation he'd established during Grapefruit League play, when he hit .273 over 10 games.

Stanton has been staying home to help stop the spread of COVID-19, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports.

Stanton posted a video to his personal Instagram account Wednesday emphasizing his decision to stay home and encouraging others to do so as well. In early April the slugger was deemed eligible to work out at the team's training facility in Tampa as he was technically still rehabbing his strained right calf. However, manager Aaron Boone has indicated that Stanton is fully healed, thus he should be ready to go when play resumes.

Ohtani (elbow) has been participating in long toss from 180 feet and ramping up throwing intensity from 60 feet. He's expected to throw off a mound soon, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani has continued his throwing program despite the suspension of play necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. His progression to high-intensity work from 60 feet suggests that a return to the mound is just around the corner. If all goes well, Ohtani could be a part of the Angels' starting rotation when the regular season finally gets underway.

Stanton (calf) will continue to be allowed to rehab at the Yankees' training facility in Tampa under Florida's stay-at-home policy, George A. King III of the New York Post reports.

While Florida governor Ron DeSantis' order requires most Floridians to remain at home, it makes some exceptions, including one for those in need of essential medical care. That will allow rehabbing players such as Stanton, Aaron Judge (rib) and Luis Severino (elbow) to continue to make use of the team's Tampa facility. It remains to be seen whether Stanton will continue to work out at the complex, however, as manager Aaron Boone deemed the slugger fully healthy earlier this week, per Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

Ford would be a candidate to make the big-league squad if MLB decides to expand rosters when play resumes, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports.

Ford's place on the Opening Day roster had been in question throughout the spring, and his spot seemed to grow more tenuous with the possible return to health of Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Aaron Judge (rib) due to the delayed start of the campaign. However, talk of MLB expanding roster sizes to account for a shortened spring training has Ford solidly back in the mix. Per Kuty, the Yankees value Ford's experience and left-handed bat off the bench despite not necessarily needing a backup first baseman.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Wednesday that Stanton (calf) is fully healthy and will be ready to go for Opening Day, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports. "He's pretty much over the hump," Boone said. "He's pretty much run aggressively and done the things necessary. If and when we begin spring training games, he would likely be ready to roll for that."

The Yankees are one of the big winners of MLB's decision to suspend its season at least eight weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. The team now has a good chance to have three key players -- Stanton, Aaron Judge (rib) and James Paxton (back) -- available for Opening Day, when all initially appeared set to begin the season on the injured list. Look for Stanton to occupy his familiar spot in the heart of the order whenever MLB sets a firm target date for the start of the season.

Buxton (shoulder) would have been in the Opening Day lineup had the season started on time Thursday, manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Buck's rehab could not have gone smoother," Baldelli said. "Physically, mentally, he's in a tremendous spot."

Buxton underwent surgery on his torn labrum in September, which placed his availability for Opening Day in question. However, he would have been ready for Opening Day had it started on time. He now looks set to begin the season as Minnesota's starting center fielder whenever the MLB season begins.

Reyes is expected to open the year as a corner outfielder while Domingo Santana starts at designated hitter, MLB.com's Mandy Bell reports.

Reyes and Jordan Luplow are the frontrunners to start in the corner outfield spots, according to Bell, while Oscar Mercado is set to start in center field while Delino DeShields works as the fourth outfielder. Jake Bauers could also make the team as a fifth outfielder and Tyler Naquin (knee) could be healthy by the time the season starts, which would likely push Luplow to the short side of a platoon. Reyes came into camp 18 pounds lighter, and while he probably still won't be great in the outfield, Santana is one of the worst defensive outfielders in baseball, so this alignment makes sense if Cleveland is intent on starting Santana. Reyes has only ever started in right field and DH in his career.

Ford's likelihood of making the Opening Day roster is lessened with the probable return to health of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge by the start of the regular season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

While Ford's big bat appeared to give him a leg up on a roster spot prior to the suspension of spring training, the delay to the start of the regular season figures to reduce available bench spots by two due to the anticipated return of both Judge and Stanton. Thairo Estrada, Tyler Wade and Rosell Herrera are all candidates for an Opening Day roster spot, which could bump Ford back to the minors, especially considering his limited versatility in the field. Ford didn't help his chances in spring training, as he hit .194 with only one home run during Grapefruit League play.

Ohtani (elbow) has continued to play catch on flat ground and may throw off a mound in a couple weeks, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani had thrown off a mound nearly a month ago, though that session was described as low-effort work. Presumably, he's now ramping up the intensity of his throwing program as the team's goal remains for him to retake the mound in mid-May for game action.